JSX places deposit-backed order for 50 Heart Aerospace aircraft
JSX’s agreement converts its 2023 letter of intent with Heart into a capital-backed purchase commitment and secures early delivery positions.
Air carrier JSX has placed a deposit-backed purchase agreement for 50 Heart Aerospace ES-36 aircraft, with purchase rights for 50 more.
Compared with Heart’s previously announced aircraft, the ES-30, the ES-36 adds six passenger seats and 1,415 pounds of payload capacity, increasing both by 20% while retaining the same maximum takeoff weight and battery capacity as the prior design.
“The ES-36 design is a direct result of what Heart learned designing, building, testing and flying our X1 demonstrator aircraft,” said Ben Stabler, chief technology officer at Heart. “Those learnings have helped us make the production aircraft more capable in the air and more productive for operators. The ES-36 carries more passengers and payload, creating greater revenue-generating potential for operators like JSX, while targeting operating costs at least 40 percent lower than legacy regional aircraft.”
Superseding the ES-30’s four-engine independent-hybrid configuration, the ES-36 adopts twin series-hybrid powertrains, with each using a 1.65-megawatt electric motor to drive a propeller. Ground-charged onboard batteries provide an all-electric range of 125 miles (200km), plus reserves.
For longer missions, the ES-36 has a hybrid range of 745 miles (1,200km), plus reserves, enabled by a megawatt-class turbogenerator in each of its two powertrains. Each turbogenerator is powered by its own compact, commercially available gas turbine, which generates electricity in flight to supplement the batteries and power the electric propulsion motors
The ES-36 is well suited to helping JSX grow service at the convenient community airports it already serves, including Santa Monica, Westchester County, Naples and Napa Valley. The aircraft also broadens the range of community airports that JSX can serve.
Alex Wilcox, JSX CEO said: “JSX is proud to back the development of the next-generation aircraft that will deliver the best travel experience for our Customers, expand the destinations available to them, and strengthen our business. The hybrid-electric ES-36 will enable more nonstop routes from more convenient airports while further elevating the award-winning, no-middle-seat onboard experience that JSX Customers love. We’re excited to work with Heart to tailor the ES-36 to JSX’s operations.”
The agreement also establishes a working partnership to enhance the onboard experience and saving JSX passengers time. Heart and JSX will collaborate on cabin configuration, charging and turnaround procedures, route planning and airport readiness.
Anders Forslund, founder and CEO of Heart Aerospace said: “We’re grateful to Alex for believing in Heart early and championing electric aviation as he builds JSX’s fleet of the future. We look forward to working side by side with the JSX team to bring the ES-36 into service in order to deliver exceptional economics for JSX and an unparalleled travel experience for its customers.”
Heart is now building its first pre-production ES-36 aircraft at the company’s pilot manufacturing plant in Los Angeles. A first flight is planned in the second half of 2028 and entry into service in 2031.
